Sun, 22 Feb 2009 @ The New Windmill Ground. vs Romulus (2-1). British Gas Business Southern League Midland Division. By P Edwards. Apologies for the lateness of this report. The Press Officer was at work until 10pm!
Saturday 21st February, 2009
Report by Paul Vanes
Over the years, the winning margin between the sides is rarely more than a single goal and so it proved again in another absorbing encounter between Romulus and Leamington at Coles Lane, which provided the spectators with some entertaining fare as the game flowed from end to end, chances being created but not taken. The seeds however, for Leamington's victory were sown last Tuesday night with Martin Hiers rant which gave the players a much needed kick up the backside and I sensed the belief starting to flow as those closing eleven minutes produced the best football Brakes have played this year.
In bright sunshine, the game commenced and the first real action saw Adam Cooper collect a yellow card on five minutes when he clattered a Romulus player who was left winded. Leamington earned a free kick which skipper Sanders, back to his best after his debilitating illness,powered his kick forward and Luke Corbett cleverly allowed the ball to pass under his foot and James Husband's shot only just cleared the bar. Richard Anstiss managed to hang on to a high ball despite pressure from Jermaine Clarke who towered above the keeper.
Steve Palmers excellent return from injury last only 20 minutes when he stumbled following a challenge and fell to his knees before rolling over and signalling to the bench to be substituted and on getting to his feet, pulled his sock down to show a huge half inch wide gash right across the shin, Sports therapist Natalie Wilson could not stop the flow of blood and an ambulance was called for with the away dressing room needing swabbing down twice to clear the blood. Jamie Towers came on and slotted into his usual position but the match officials were still checking the pitch to see what caused the injury and first found a loose stud and a minute later, a Romulus player discovered a broken glass bottle top which the referee immediately took charge of.
Roms captain Tyrone Fagan reminded everyone of his prowess with a smart run but steered his shot over the bar as the home team started pressing the Brakes further back on the defensive, with Fagan and Clarke testing keeper Anstiss in the air as he punched clear from both strikers. From the corner, Sam Smith got in a free downward header that bounced and cleared the crossbar. Anstiss was again leaping to clear from a Tom Wilmore free kick as Clarke and Smith tried to get on the end of it. Another free kick by Wilmore was headed over by Clarke and with half time rapidly approaching Jason Lanns made a two footed tackle from behind that left Towers in a heap and all the reward Brakes got was a free kick with the referee showing some leniency towards the defender much to the annoyance of the Brakes players, failing to produce a card of any description. The free kick was cleared and play switched to the other end where Anstiss was off his line to clear outside his area, then moments later an attacker went down, the referee gave a free kick outside the area but changed his mind after talking to his assistant who had indicated a penalty, which was given. Fagan sent Anstiss one way and coolly put the ball into the opposite side of the net to give Romulus a half time lead. It was established that the spot kick was given for a hand on an arm and shirt pulling by the same player namely father-to-be Cooper. Congratulations to Ace and his lovely young lady.
On 49 minutes keeper Matty Harris handled the ball outside his area but escaped any action from the referee other than the free kick. Five minutes later the scores were level when Corbett flicked on a long ball to Husband who skated past his marker to deliver a perfect cut back that Mark Bellingham netted, giving Harris no chance with his shot. Towers was sending over some good crosses that had Harris at full stretch then a free kick from Marcus Jackson found Corbett in space and his header was tipped over by Harris for another corner. The officials were at it again when they missed a blatant high hand ball that needed a first time clearance from Brakes defence and out for a corner with the referee getting an earful from several defenders. Liam Reynolds limped off on 63 minutes with Mykel Beckley replacing him then Romulus took off Lanns and Craig Thomas entered the fray. Twice Sanders slung 60 diagonal yard passes to Husband out wide left who brought the ball under immediate control to set Brakes back on the attack.
It was all Leamington as Beckleys cross was hit on the bounce by Corbett which ricocheted off a defender for a corner with Harris scrambling back across his goal and in the 79th minute Leamington took the lead when Husbands inswinging corner at the Rifle range end was flicked over the mass of players and Luke Corbett, rushing in from beyond the far post put his header just inside the same post. That was followed by a Jackson centre but Bellinghams header was deflected for a corner. Romulus threw on Peter Folkes and the speed merchant Jerome Grandison on in place of Leon Blake and Lei Brown as the home side went for broke. Romulus began to come back into the game and won a corner which was cleared by Husband. Grandison was never given a chance to show his pace down the left as the passes were often straight at him or just behind forcing him to stop and turn round. Anstiss made an unorthodox clearing punch at waist high as he tore off his line to deny Clarke and Fagan then a goal mouth clearance kept Roms at bay, Romulus were upset when an assistant referee flagged for offside well before Fagan placed the ball into the back of Leamingtons net and from the kick, Anstiss sent the ball into Roms half and a centre from Husband was hacked out for a corner. Almost the last action of the game saw Thomas booked.
Romulus Matty Harris; Nick Heath; Tom Wilmore; Colm Tiernan; Sam Smith; Jason Lanns (68 Craig Thomas); Leon Blake (82 Peter Folkes); Tom Franklin; Tyrone Fagan captain; Jermaine Clarke; Lei Brown (82 Jerome Grandison).
Unused subs Chris Charles; Danny Douglas
Leamington Richard Anstiss; Marcus Jackson; Ryan Parisi; Adam Cooper; Guy Sanders captian; Liam Reynolds (63 Mykel Beckley); Steve Palmer (19 Jamie Towers); Stuart Herlihy; Luke Corbett; Mark Bellingham; James Husband.
Unused subs Josh Blake; Martin Hier; Jamie Lenton.
Attendance: 287
Injury note, Steve Palmer needed 9 stitches in his wound and his leg was strapped up, he was given some penicillin tablets as a precaution in case of infection. He was back in the clubhouse soon after 17.00 hours enjoying a welcome drink.
- MotM James Husband.